Okunoin Hotel Tokugawa

Incredible experience, this is for sure the highlight of my trip in Japan. You can ask at the Nikko station tourist center to call the hotel for a shuttle bus to give you a ride to the hotel (and I can't recommend you enough to do it, going from the bus stop to the hotel seems really intensive). We booked a room with a private onsen on the balcony, which had a view on nature and river with carps. Dinner and breakfast were also amazing, I'm at lost of word to describe the experience we had, and the staff was on par with this. If you have the budget to treat yourself for one night, this is the hotel you need to highly consider.

my first time in nikko and i have to say this place is unreal - came during koyo season and the courtyard garden looks like a painting. as a couple we stayed in a room with private onsen, and it was a dream -- hot bath after a long hike overlooking a koi fish pond and autumn garden. not to mention the kaiseki dinner and traditional breakfast included, best meals ever -- my only "complaint" is that it was so much food that i was guilty i couldnt finish it all. staff were so so nice, the hotel shuttle is very convenient considering the bus is often super packed. they are the best!!!!!

The hidden gem and the highlight of our stay in Japan. First of all, the check-in experience: we were sitting in the dining area with a fantastic view of a Japanese garden and enjoyed our complimentary drink. So no need to say that we were blown away by excellent service and hospitality from the first step! We wanted to experience the Japanese culture, so we decided to stay in a traditional Japanese room with tatami floors and futon beds (super comfortable and cozy, by the way). But the star of our room was the private hot spring bath. We enjoyed the hot bath in the morning while drinking the complimentary tea on our balcony. Also, you can book a massage in your room (this is an additional charge). We ordered it during our check-in time. We took 90 mins and 60 mins of massage each after dinner and really liked it. The food: we ordered kaiseki dinner and breakfast, and everything was fresh and delicious. And last but not least is the Japanese garden. It’s the most beautiful garden I have seen so far. I highly recommend this place; we will definitely come back next time.

If you are looking for a traditional Japanese resort experience in an area laden with history and lore, this is the place to book: rooms with tatami beds and sliding partitions, private and public hot springs, relax rooms, lounges and an inner landscaped garden dotted with fish ponds and interesting vegetation. Plus, of course, today’s necessities like Wi-Fi, climate control, sentient toilet seats and a full array of quality complimentary cosmetics. Based upon a casual observation, the place seems to target primarily couples looking for rest and relaxation, but worked just as well for our family of four, which includes two teenagers. As everywhere else we went, the staff was always very attentive and ready to assist however possible. LOCATION: offering both privacy and convenience, the hotel is located along an unassuming country road, a ten minute walk from the main thoroughfare connecting Nikko with Lake Chōzenji and served by local buses, with a stop just 100 meters down the road. Buses generally run two or three times an hour, but without a regular pattern, so plan accordingly (the front desk, of course, has all the schedules and route information handy). The hotel is also within walking distance of the shrine complex that is Nikko’s main attraction. ROOM: we spent two nights in an Aqua Deluxe Suite, which accommodates four guests in two separate partitioned areas, one with Western beds and the other with tatami beds set up every night. The room also features a sitting room and separate toilet, sink and shower areas. We had to be a little creative in storing our suitcases (pack lightly when travelling around Japan!) but the room actually offered more storage space than initially observed. The key feature of the room is an outdoor hot bath tub overlooking a private man-made pond closed off by a wall, offering complete privacy. After a day of hikes, it was a pleasure to soak in the tub surrounded by nothing but the sound of cascading water and chirping insects. AMENITIES: breakfast and dinner were included in the room rate, and I recommend taking full advantage of them. All the meals, with a set rotating menu, offered a great variety of what we took as local fish, meat and vegetable dishes, all prepared with quality ingredients and artfully served in private rooms. And don’t be deceived by the small portions: you will end up eating a lot! All meals are served at fixed hours, requiring advance reservations. The hot springs offer both indoors and outdoor basins: in a place like this, just wear the hotel-provided yukata and slippers and embrace the Japanese way of relaxation.

I have been to Japan first time and our stay in Nikko was definitely one of our favorite highlights. The service at the hotel is beyond good. The property has a river flowing right by it, several fish ponds and beautiful Japanese gardens. The room had a formal dining area, a balcony facing a secluded pond with a private hotsprings bath. The main room had tatami mats and doubles as sitting room in daytime to sleeping room with futon beds (which were changed right after breakfast and dinner). Breakfast and dinners were delicious, prepared with care and rich in taste. The hotel also has a jacuzzi, sauna as well as indoors and outdoors onsen. A private onsen can also be reserved here which makes it fun for a group of people. Definably a must when visiting Nikko and will return. The offer free shuttle services to town and back as well as train pickups and dropoffs. We were also given very beautiful yukats, one of the regrets is that you can't buy them after. I especially wanted to, since it is very difficult to find a yukata with a height of 193 in stores. Overall an excellent experience! We will come back for sure! Trip type Vacation Rooms: 10 Service: 10 Location: 10

A 5-star-hotel experience. As soon as we arrived, the staff greeted us warmly at the front of the hotel and promptly valeted our car inside a garage. They even went the extra mile to clean the windshield of our car, making sure it was spotless for our journey. The tranquil atmosphere of the hotel was delightful, with a stunning Japanese garden and various resting places, such as a relaxing room featuring a rare fish display and a common room with origami paper. The onsen was immaculately clean, and I enjoyed unwinding in the small open-air onsen, although I found the temperature to be a bit too low. The amenities were top-notch, and I was impressed with the abundance of L'occitane shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner provided. The hotel truly exceeded my expectations by miles. The food was undoubtedly the highlight of my stay, and although the courses were substantial, I found them to be a bit too large for my liking. Nonetheless, the quality was exceptional, and I thoroughly enjoyed every dish.

Excellent hotel, extremely nice staff. The shuttle bus is very useful to get you there and you’re welcomed with a choice of drinks. Once you get to your room, in spite of the photos you’ve seen before you’re shocked by the serenity of it all. The private bath is an excellent way to unwind after a long day’s touristing and the food is a spectacle in itself. Each meal there brings a variety of Japanese cuisine that didn’t cease to amaze. Highly recommended.